Floor jack



Jan 2 c 'I 5 27- L. JOHNSON ET AL FLOOR' JACK Filed March 5, 1926Inventors l. cfa

Attorney NMa-www.,

Patented Jan. 25, 197.

UNI-TED S"l`A'I"KEAS l,615,705 Petter Lens Vmanson ann WittinivrxwnLLinesten watts ii'LLscN, or ossINrNe, New

YORK.

FLOOR Jaen.

Application filed March 3,19%. Serial No. 91,9%.

i. following description and drawing.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part ot thisapplication, and inwhichlike numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame:

Figure 1 is a side view ot a tool or jach constructed in accordance withthe present invention showing the approximate manner in which the sameis used.

Figure 2 is a section taken approximately upon theplane et' the line 2&2of Figure 1 looking downwardly.

' Figure 3 is a detail section taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4; is a perspective view ot one of the details. y

In the drawing, the reference character 1 designates a horizontal stud.This however may represent sub-flooring- The ffloor boards arerepresented by the reference characters 2. It is obvious to persons:t'amiliar with tools of the kind described that it is the purposethereof to hold the board being nailed lirmly against the one alreadynailed in order that a tightdustproo't joint may be had.

In carrying out the present invention, I provide a base plate 3 whichhas a notch :formed in its outer end as represented in Figure 2.Fastened to the intermediate portion of th-e top ot this base plate is abracket l including` spaced portions having bearings in which thepintles oit a toothed rack bar 5 are liournaled. This bar is bowedlongitudinally and is pivotally connected as at (S with the lowerportion ot' a manually rocked lever 7. The lower portion of this leveris provided on opposite sides with ace plates 8, and is formed on itsrear side with a pocket 9 in which the upper end ot a retaining pawl 10is pivotally mounted. It

will be noted that the lower end of this pawl is twisted as shownplainly in Figure 3'to provide a part 11. This'part is 'bifurcatedandthe turcations straddle the toothed portion ot the rack bar. A' toothis formed between these urcations and engages with the teeth ot therack` bar, thus holding the lever in different adjusted positions. Itwill be noticed that ay releasing latch 12 is pivoted between its endsto the intermediate portion ci" the rack bar and the outer' end thereofextends betw'een'one of the turcations of the part 11, and the rack barshown inVFigur'e v3.V -The outer 'end carries a right angular extension13 which overlies the vupper 'edge oi' the rack bar. vIn this way thedownward swing ot the latches islimited. It will be noted that the innerend ot' the latch is formed into a foot piece .1li adapted to be engagedby the operators toot. yItis evident that with thisarrangement' that bypressing down on the afoot' piece 'and lifting upwardly on the outerendof the latch, .the same will serve to -disengage the tooth of the dog 10from the rack bar and to` allowfree swinging movement ot the lever.

-Inconnection with this device I employ a special pressure providingmember 15 having adownturned flange 16 tol engage the edge of thelfioorboard as 'shown' in' Figure `1`. This member is providedwith spacedhooksl, and with outstanding ears 18 disposed at right angles 'to eachother. v .This pressure member 15 fits in the cut out portion or notchedouter end 'et the base `plate 3A as shown'in Figure Q'and the ears'18overlie the extensions of the 'base plate in order to provide ai'ulcrum'tor the lever, it is provided at its bottom with outstandinglugs 19 having openings-through which the hooks 17 extend.

It is yet to be pointed out that a suitable anchoring device is providedfor the base plate, and this comprises a pair ot arcuate metal strips 2Ofastened to the intermediate portion ot the base plate as at 21 andtastened at their outer ends to a cross piece 2Q. In turn, a downwardlycurved anchor 23 fastened to the intermediate portion oi' the crosspiece, and is provided at its free end with spurs adapted to be driveninto the stud 1.

In practice the operator places the base plate 3 upon the stationaryfloor board and allows the outer end portion thereof to overllt) hangthe boa-rd which is about to be nailed. Then the operating lever 7 isbrought to the approximate position shown in Figure 1 and the downturnedflange 17 of the pressure member 15 is brought against the longitudr nalfree edge ot' the Hoor board. The operator stands on the base plate onthe right hand side of the operating lever in Figure 1 and pushes thelever away from him. In so doing the lower end 4of the lever movesinwardly and exerts a pull upon the hook 17 and in turn upon the member15, thus drawing or pressing the loose floor board tightly up againstthe stationary one. As the lever is thus pushed, the pawl ratchets overthe teeth of the rack bar and holds the lever in the position to whichit has been moved. Sliding of the base plate is prevented by theanchoring means comprising the parts Q0 to 23 inclusive. After the Hoorboa-rd has been nailed, the operator disengages the pawl by liting thelatch 12.

rIhe operation of the device will be clear to those skilled in the artto which the invention relates by considering it in connection with thedrawing. Also the details and relative arrangement will be plain and amore lengthy description is therefore thought unnecessary.

vWhile the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it is tc be understood that minor changes coming within theield of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a iloor jack of the class described, abase plate having a notch at one end, a relatively slidable pressuremember tting into said notch and having a downturned flange adapted toengage a Hoor board, an operating lever, a detachable operatingconnection between the lower end of said lever and said pressure member,anchoring means carried by the intermediate portion of said base plate,and releasable retaining means interposed between the base plate andlever.

2. In a floor jack of the class described, a base plate having one endprovided with a vertically disposed operating lever having f meansdetachably connected with said hooks, a rack bar pivotally connectedwith the intermediate portion of the base plate and pivotally connectedwith the lower portion oit said lever, a pawl carried by said lever andcooperable with said rack bar, release means carried by said rack barand associated with said pawl, and anchoring means connected with saidbase plate and extending over and outwardly beyond said member to becngaged with a relatively stationary part ot the floor.

3. In a, floor jack oitl the class described, a base plate provided atone end with a notch, a relatively slidable pressure producing memberdisposed in said notch and having a downturned flange engageable withthe loor board and provided at its opposite inner end with upstandinghooks, a vertically disposed operating lever having means detachablyconnected with said hooks, whereby it is swingably connected with saidpreI- sure member, a toothed rack bar pivotally connected with theintermediate portion oi' the base plate at one end and pivotallyconnected at its opposite end with the lever, a ball carried by thelever and cooperable with the teeth on the rack bar, a pivotally mountedrelease device carried by the rack bar and associated with said pawl fordisengaging the latter from said teeth, said release device beingprovided with a foot piece, and anchoring means connected with the baseplate comprising a pair of arcuate strips between which the pivoted endof the lever is disposed, a cross piece connected to the outer end oitsaid strip, and a resilient spur equipped element carried by said crosspiece and adapted to be embedded in a rela tively stationary part oi:the floor.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

LAKS JOHNSON.

WILLIAM WELLINGTON WELLS HILLSOIl.

